Fantasy/VR Game Writer – Paid Test Scene – $120-150/project

Spiralverse — A cross-genre fantasy (actually hard sci-fi) universe being developed as both a VR game (Quest 3) and web novel. Think Ghibli meets isekai, cozy pastoral magic with an outsider protagonist.

What I need: A narrative collaborator to help write Morgan’s story — a neurodivergent Swedish woman who crashes into a fantasy world with an impossible bioluminescent currency economy.

The Test

Write a 1,000-1,500 word scene: Morgan’s first real meal after five days of starving. She collapsed from hunger. A group of outcasts found her and gave her food — no payment, just shared it. The relief is so intense she cries.

What I’m looking for:

  • First-person character voice (pattern-seeking, systems-thinking, overwhelmed)
  • “Show, don’t tell” for neurodivergent traits (NO diagnoses named)
  • Cozy-strange tone (magic treated matter-of-factly)
  • Emotional authenticity without melodrama

Word count: 1,000-1,500 words
Compensation: $120-150 USD (~10-12 cents/word)
Timeline: 1 week

The Bigger Picture

If the test works out, ongoing work includes:

  • Web novel chapters (Morgan’s full journey)
  • VR game dialogue (branching, reactive NPCs)
  • World-building with narrative voice
  • Character POV switches

Self-funded indie project — looking for sustainable rates for ongoing collaboration, not one-off work.

Style References

Prose feel:

  • Becky Chambers (cozy sci-fi, found family)
  • T. Kingfisher (practical protagonists in strange situations)
  • Welcome to Night Vale / Vigor Mortis (existential horror as comfort)

NOT looking for:

  • Epic fantasy voice
  • YA action pacing
  • Dark/grimdark tone

How to Apply

Comment or DM with:

  1. 2-3 writing samples (first-person, fantasy/speculative, emotional scenes)
  2. What interests you about writing a neurodivergent protagonist
  3. Confirm $120-150 works for the test
  4. Availability this week

Full brief: https://publish.obsidian.md/spiralverse-game/NARRATIVE-WRITER-BRIEF

Contact: DM here or Discord samlabs

Looking for someone who wants to help bring a character to life, not just fill word counts.

Apply (Mention Listiller.com When Applying)